WELLINGTON SOUTH BY-ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 70, 17 December 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON SOUTH BY-ELECTION

MR. CASTLES OPENING SPEECH

HIS PLATFORM AND HIS OPPONENTS Mr. John Castle, a candidate for election to represent Wellington South in. Parliament, addressed a crowded meel-ing-in the Newtown Library last night. There were many rabid opponents of the candidate in attendance, and there were many interruptions. Mr. T. Fathers was in the chair. In his introduction of the candidate the chairman was interrupted a good deal from the back of the hall. There wen: more or less noisy interjections and laughter. Mr. Castle said that he was sure all would regret the death of the late Mr. Hindmarsh, who had stood for prnciples and for freedom of speech. As a mark of respect, to the late member he asked the audience to stand, and the people stood. i Slums and Milk.

Mr. Cijslle said that the death of Mr. Hindmarsh and a lot of other people had shown that we had not a proper Public Health Department. He said lie stood for the abolition' oi' slums. While he approved of much that was on the programmes of either of his opponents, lie could not.accept cither of, them ill full. They were "lull of high-sounding platitudes, and inadequate piecemeal proposals, and plausible, pernicious suggestions." His opponents did not npprove of slums. Neither did he. He alto believed we should have pure milk. A voice; What about chemists? Mr. Castle: You are all interested in milk. When I "became a city councillor one of my first, duties was to go down to the station and inspect the arrival of our milk in this cily. A voice; AYhat do you know about it? llr. Castle; I know that the condition in which milk arrives in this city is a disgrace to the Public, Health authorities of this Dominion, 'l know also that want of co-operation on the part of the Goverhmont and the City Council and vested interest! prevents the supply of pure milk-to tliis.city. A voice; What about water in medicine ? (Laiwliter.). .Mr. Castle; You can't have medicine without water. I would move to compel dairy farmers to send clean milk in clean cans to convenient railway stations, and compel the Government fast trains and cool carriages to bring the milk to the city. ...

Things to Destroy, "I would vote to reorganise the Central Health Department, while the State should destroy rabbits and noxious weeds, especially on their own ' lands," cc.Minued Mr". Castle. "It is of infinitely greater importance that rats, mosquitoes, big fties—(laughter)— and other carriers of disease should be exterminated, and that trees should lie planted on scientific principles. You have all heard of the construction of the Panama Canal. (Laughter.) Well, .there was a time in the constriction of that canal when it had to be discontinued. You laugh when I mention mosquitoes. You laugh when I mention rats, but when we had the bubonic plague Hero the rat was the greatest disseminato.r of digease we had. Coming back to the Panama Canal I want to tell you that there was a. time when it was stopped by such a little insect as a mosquito." Mr. Castle, amidst interruption, told about the fever in the Canal zone. He was reading from a paper, and some one. asked: "Is that the 'Free Lnnee'P" Mr. Castle: The "Free Lanco" said I had not a Buckley's lioye, but.the "Free Lance" is not the whole of the Press of this city. The "Worker" did not say I was not. going to win- It did not. say very much about me at. all. and that is pretty good considering that I am sometimes called a wowser!

About His Opponents. Councillor Frost, had produced a testimonial the .other night to .show that he ivas a friend of the workers. That testimonial was dated 1906. It was worn the employees of the City Council at that time because he had had something to do with bavin? raised their wages. Since then Councillor Frost had done nothing. He was a Rip van 'Winkle. The graves in Knroi'i Cemetery—the graves of the people who had died during the recent epidemic—were a testimony to tho "wavering, wobbling ineptitude" of tho Wellington City Council, of which Councillor Frost had" been a member for thirteen years. Referring to Mr. Semple's assertion that a vote cast for either of his opponents was a vote for tho retention of the slums, ho gave this a flat contradiction, and quoted his own successful efforts to improve the drainage of Penrose Avenue. (Anplause and laughter.) Mr. Castle, in face of interruptions, told the audience with some detail how it was that lie had improved tho drainage of Penrose Avenue. He also pointed to other work he had done to get rid of slums in streets of Nowtown. More "Works." Mr. Castle then referred to improvements he had made as a member 01 the school committee. He had amongst other things planted trees on Arbor Day, he helped to convert portion of the grounds into « tennis court, and had planted native trees there. A voice: And dandelions! Mr. Castle: "Well, dandelions are very good for the liver." (laughter.) Ho declared that he was a worker, having come out to New Zealand at the age of seventeen straight from a chemist's shop in England. A voice: What about going bnck there? Mr.'Castle said that when he left to go Home he honed to go as Prime Minister, like Sir. Mnssey. When he came here thirty years ago the highest wages ho, could get in a chemist's shop was ss. a week. He had had 7s. Cd. a week' in England before that. A voice: What about the cost of living then ? Mr. Castle: "Oh, I don't know. We hadn't much to live on then, and wo didn't quarrel so much about it." He described his life as a worker on a bush section as a boy, where he chased and milked cows in the cold grey of the morning, and filled in timo during the dny hewing down trees. "After that," he said, "I did twelve months-(laugh-ter)—not where Mr. Seraplc went—but on the sea." He said, also, that lie had been a member of tho Cooks and Stewards' Union—and a financial ono.

. A Fow Other Things, Next, Mr. Castle' discussed the supply of fish, condemning the local authority ami the Government, and then turned to the wages of . traniwaymen and his unsecondert motion to give the tramwaymen an increase which would have brought their wages up to nenrly Is. dd. an hour. If elected he would do his best to have war burdens moro equitably spread. Some had lost life, limb, or dear ones, while others had amassed wealth in the war. These things should not bo. As for returned soldiers they ought to bo more fully provided for. He would support a Government vote to give these iiten such educational (raining as would equip Ihem for industrial life. As a beginning ho iVould support the building of a. new technical school on tlio Mount Cook site. Mr. Castle was referring to Councillor Frost in relation to the Zoo when an interrupter interjected: "Ho ouglit to bo in it." ( Mr. Castle said that the Zoo and the lions were a credit to Councillor Frost. "I can say a good word for an opponent," lie added. He went on to declare llml he had advocated, iusl: as much as Councillor Frost, the building of a technical school.

Talcs out of School. Reverting to his motion for the betterment of the position of the Irannvay men lie said: '-You should hear some of those councillors talking in committer—these men that say they are Labour advocates. You should see them sticking their chest out. (Applnuse.) They don't like being sat on, I tell you. They were all there in committee of the council, but when iliev saw tIM i was determined (cries of I "Oil") I tell you it takes a little determination on the part of any city coun- | cillor to move a resolution when he knows it is not going: to Ito eccowlod."

A voice: Who was the Labour advocate on the City Council? Another voice: Mr. Wost, of course. Mr. Cixstle ignored these comments. He told tiie meeting in detail how he had to tight to Ret a chance to move his resolution, and then no one would second it. In committee quite a number of councillors can.e round behind his chair and asked him not to move his ru:-oiv-tion in open council; said it would make them feel email; said it would be s'leh n backdown for them. But he insisted on moving it. He at last managed to get the consent of the Mayor_ to wove it, but nobody would second it.

Politics—and Banter, Mr. Castle gave some little attention to Mr. Semple, but the task was difficult. There was too much noise. II? then read a series of questions from the New Zealand Educational Institute which had been addressed to him. These had to do with free, secular, and compulsory education! and Mr. Castle, answering all of the questions "Yos," declared for the maintenance of our present secular system and for the improvement of it, and against the setting up of Church schools with State aid. He had always, he said, been in favour of allowing women to sit in. Parliament. They had women on the Newtown School Committee, and since they had been there tlu work had been more expeditiously done than "when they all used to sit around with their pipes smoking." Mr. Castle said he approved of inorease in the taxation of land to bring /about tliO' settlement, of land now held in large estates. Regarding tariff reform, be said: "1 will advocate a readjustment of the tariff to meet the requirements of the farmer, the industrialist, and all other classes of the community."' Concerning measures for the safety of seamen, lie said that, having been at sea, lie knew something about this. He would move that some stringent' precautions be insisted upon in the handling of benzine and corrosive acids and other dangerous materials. It was necessary to have these reforms for the safety of life, for in recent £mes accidents with acids and benzine hid occurred on the Xew Zealaiul coast. On Prohibition. There was a loud "Ah I" of general satisfaction when Jlr. Castle announced tnat he would taik about prohibition. "1 can square my shoulders on tne question of prohibition,'' he said. "1. uon't think there is anyone in Newtown who iloes not know where I stand on the question of prohibition." A voice: \ou are a wowser. Mr.'Castle: You kuow 1 have advocated no-license for years. A voice: What about- the »ly grog-shop? Mr. Castle: And you know, tnat when I advocate a thing I generally stick to it. Ono of my opponents is in favour of State control. He would like to have a little drop himself. And lie would also like to burk the question altogether if he. could. Now, here's where I stand on the prohibition refeiendum: I will support a referendum on a bare majority with compensation on the lines of the National Efficiency Board's proposals. A voice: That is too late now. Mr. Castle said he would support the proposal that a general election be held a-s soon after the settlement of peace as practicable. He advocated; increases in the salaries of teachers, and in reply to an interjection said that he did not consider "two pound a week" enough to pay for keeping the school clean', and he would vote to give. Die school commit; tees more money with which '' to pay to have the schools Ajeaned. lie declared also for a State-owned line of steamers to ,carry New Zealand produce. Ho would support increased assistance to friendly societies and an increase of old-age pensions generally, and especially to veterans who laid the foundations of New Zealand's greatness. He was in favour of the cutting up of large estates. *

On a No-Confidence Motion. How would he vote on the question of no-confidence in the present Coalition Government?—"ln respect to that I unequivocally declare," said Mr. Castle with much emphasis, "that seeing that, the Government's war policy under unprecedented circumstances which necessitated the carrying on of enormous business under conditions never before dreamt of, has been successful, it is extremely de-, sirable that Messrs. Massey and Ward should both remain in the Government." (Loud' cries of "No" and much noise.) "Wait a bit. I didn't say for ever. They should remain in the Government, until after the settlement of peace conditions shall have been completed tnd reported upon. I will vote against any want of confidence motion, by whatever party or person moved,ins I can't see what may happen if the Government is turned out now. Beyond that, I will vote for any party that will give effect to the principles that I have enunciated in this speech to-night." (Loud applause.)

Questions. At question time thero was no lack of questions or questioners. "What are your views on the Wanganui Detention Barracks scandal?" someone asked. Mr. Castle replied: "I think that all persons held under detention by tho Government, 110 matier for wliot reason, should be kindly and generously treated until such time as their'term of imprisonment h up/' "Are you in favour of Lieutenant Crampton beins brought to iustice r 1 Mr. Castle: Most certainly. Another question was put in this form: "Are yon in favour of disfranchising all conscientious objectors?" Mr. Castle said he wanted to get the question quito right. I understand it to be, "Am I in favour of taking away the right to vote from the men who would not go to fight for their country?" "No, that's not the question at all, eaid a man with a loud voice. "Tho question is, 'Are you in ' favour of pumshin' a man twice for the same offence?' " _ „ . . Mv Castle: Oh, T see. Well, m that case I think that, if a term of inmrisonment is ordered that should be sufficient. Bui there are general principles at stake, anil I don't think they have been decided yet*. There was another question before this one was properly settled, and in reply to it Mr. Castlo said that ho had always been in favour of Home Rule for Ireland. . Replying to another questioner, lie said he would not support "recall," a 6 advor cated by the Labour section. "I want to know." asked another, "whether the, candidate thinks tho Government shoujd be advisers .instead of ruling with the iron heel?" Mr. Castle: I think our present system of government is up to date, and lintil I got into Parliament to amend it—(laughter)—it will have to stay. Someone suggested that he had "pinched" the policv of his opponents. Mr.' Castle said that all politicians claimed this. ITe claimed that he was a radical reconstructionist candidate, because lit had brought down a complete programme of his own. Tie chaffed the Labour peonie in answering a question, as he said, "by analogy," and resort was made to counting out by o noisy section ._ • . After- further nuestions the chairman dei'lnred the meeting closed. Mr. Castle will speak at the Bantist Schoolroom. Brooklyn, to-night, and in the .Masonic Hull, Berhamporo, to-mor-row.

THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN A meeting in support of the campaign of Mr. I?. Semple, tlio Labour candidate, was held in Vullford's Hall, Brooklyn, last night. , There was a large attendance. and Mr. A. Aislabio presided. The sneakers were Mr. T. Brindle. Mr. A. L. Monteith. My. ,T. M'Combs, M.P., and tlio Rev. A. K. Archer. Commenting upon 'tlio work of the last session. Mr. Brindle contended that the legislation which bad been put upon the Statute Boole had been' prepared without finv thought of the rights of tlie neople. By prolonging its life it had done, Parliament was merely playing with the principles of democracy. Mr. Monteith dealt with the question nf workmen's compensation. He claimed that the pres-mf law was defective, and that no remedy had been devised bv the Government although lie Labour Party had represented to Parliament, tlio urenney of doing something. I'll regard (o Mr. fiemnle, lie maintained (hat bo stood sol'd for Labour, and would. * if elected, do credit to the people whom lie would represent. Mr. .T. M'Coinbs, M.P., emphasised the Tight of all parties in tl\o community to be represented in Parliament. Although the Labour Party Minved in mnjorily I'iile, it also maintained lliat no legislation should be pnsserl until tlio opinion

of the minority had been heard. It was stated that the Labour Party was a destructive! force, but 'that was not so, as it went right down to ' fundamentals, and held that Parliament should be a reflex of the whole of the people. Ik" dealt at length with the matter of insurance, and said that iire insurance premiums could bo cut in half to-day if t'he State made a monopoly of the business. The Rev. A. K. Archer said that liis experience in the camps of the Dominion led him to believe that the men of New Zealand were totally opposed to the present Government. The only rational alternative was a. Labour Government, as the present Government the few a 6 against the many. All that' the Government had said about loyalty had gone for nought, as the Government had' been disloyal to the people. Tho Labour Party stood for public ownership of public necessities. Prom what had been said lately it would seem thai the existence of slums had been discovered only recently. glums had bin amongst us for a very long time, and a seotion of the community had bee.n crying out loudly against the evil, but no notice had been taken of their statements. Mr. Semple devoted some iime to tho rival candidates in the field. ! iersions, Mr. Semplo said, 'had been cost unon the loyalty of the. Labour Party. Thy party he stood for was the only party which fought in Parliament and was responsible ultimately, for raising the miserable allowance of 255. to the soldier and Gd. to the child, to 355. for the soldier, and Is. Gd. for the child. fAppltiuseA Mr. Semple dwelt at length upon the of'land monopoly, and paid fliat the' Labour Partv was out to prohibit iungling aiid dealing in the people's birthright—the land. The Lab* our Party also stood for the nationalisation of the medical profession. They were called extremists, but the labour -Party intended to fight on refrardle.es of ttie sneers that might be hurled at them.

MR. FROST AT BERHAMPORE Mr. George Frost, the "Independent" fnriidate. address"d ' a meeting of tho electors in the Berlinmpore Masonic presided m " ht Mr " A ' A ' 3 7hiteIaw Mr. Frost outlined his political oninions on the lines of previous speeches He said that lie had no party behind him. He was standing as an independent candidate, not bound to any party, but anxious to do the best he could for the district. 'He emphasised the importance of discovering a solution of the housing iproblem. One method of helning the peonle would be to extend the tramway system so as to onen up the suburban districts. Another method v?as to develop the workers' homes scheme. The local bodies ovrht 1" do more in this respect. The City Council had tried to do something enrly m -p. by nlnnnin" to build o n land at Lyall B.iy, hut an obstacle in the way had been the rule laid down by the Government that a local body could not borrow more than ,£3O(HI 'without the Government's consent. The novers of the 1 ricnl h;ul lippn extended by the Public Health Act iust nassed and he bed no doubt that, the Citv Council would take action in the matter tit once. He expected that a_ commitee would be fet np at the council meeting on Thur«dar night. It was high time that a definite move was made and the slum areas wined out. Mr. Frost denied the statement made bv one of his rival candidates that the Zoo at Newtown was a menace to public health. The 7m wa? kept under most, careful inspection, and it wn s an asset to the whole of tho citv. A reflection cast, upon the Zoo was smuily a reflection on the district. He could deny absolutely that, the Zoo was a danger to 'public health in anv respect. In answer to Questions, Mr. Frost said he had not voted against the interests or the tramwa.yni«n. The' council had never dictated fo the men as to wages, Mr. Frost outlined the course of the negotiations between the council and the men. It was on his resolution that the council's delegates finallv had b.een empowered to grant the Is. 4d. an' hour asked by the men. He moved to this effect in committee arid the motion was adopted unanimously. Then when Hitmeeting resumed in open council Councillor Cnstle moved that the men should he rrranted a .10 per ennt. increase all.round.' The members of thq council were actually disnersing at. that moment, and they did not regard the motion seriously, "Are you in favour of cranting the tramwaymen time and a half overtime?" was a ouestion nut by a.'tramwayman. Mr. Frost said the men were now working under an agreement. His ouestioner had been one of the assessors. He considered the men should stick to their agreement. He did not hold with the 'Prussian idea of tearing up agreements. He believed in a forty-eight hours' week for all workers.

The candidate was accorded a vote of fhank« and confidence by a substantial majority.

Mr. R. Kemnle mill address ji meting of women in the Masonic Hall, Brooklyn, this afternoon at 3 o'clock, and to-night meeting in sunport nf Hie r„ib<iur cafdidate will b» held in Fullford's Fall. TC'roolOvn. The sneakers "'ill be: The Hon. ,T. T. Paul,~\r.L.f., ?r r . K. E. Holland, M.P., and Mr. W. T. Y n nng. and the candidate, Mr! Reninle. will address the electors in the 'Masonic Hall. Berhempore, assisted by Hie Rev. A. K. Archer and Mr. M. .T. Reardon.